PBS NewsHour; July 26, 2012 6:00pm-7:00pm PDT

>> Warner: ON THE "DAILY DOWNLOAD" TONIGHT, WE LOOK AT HOW MITT ROMNEY'S TRIP TO LONDON IS BEING TRACKED IN SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> Woodruff: FROM ILLINOIS, WE HAVE THE STORY OF SCIENTISTS TRYING TO TAMP DOWN THE POPULATION OF AN INVASIVE FISH. AT THE SAME TIME, THEY SEARCH FOR WAYS TO PROFIT FROM THEM.

>> ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH GETTING PEOPLE INTERESTED IN EATING ASIAN CARP IS THEY HAPPEN TO HAVE A LOT OF BONES IN SOME STRANGE PLACES SO THEY'RE REALLY HARD TO FILET.

>> Warner: AND WE EXAMINE A NEW EFFORT TO TACKLE THE HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES.

>> Woodruff: THAT'S ALL AHEAD ON TONIGHT'S "NEWSHOUR." MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY: AND BY THE ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION. SUPPORTING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND IMPROVED ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL LITERACY IN THE 21ST CENTURY. AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS AND FOUNDATIONS. AND... THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING. AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU.

>> Woodruff: SYRIAN BATTLE GROUPS BORE DOWN ON THE COUNTRY'S COMMERCIAL CAPITAL TODAY. THEY TARGETED REBELS IN ALEPPO, WHERE SOME THREE MILLION PEOPLE WERE ALREADY UNDER AIR AND ARTILLERY ATTACK. WE BEGIN WITH ALEX THOMSON OF "INDEPENDENT TELEVISION NEWS" REPORTING FROM DAMASCUS.

>> Reporter: DAMASCUS ONE WEEK INTO THE BATTLE FOR CITY AND VIDEO BROADCAST BY SYRIAN STATE TELEVISION SHOWS SUSTAINED FIRE FIGHTS YESTERDAY IN THE CITY'S OUTSKIRTS. BUT ITS ALEPPO-- SYRIA'S BIGGEST CITY-- WHERE THE LATEST MAJOR ASSAULT IS LIKELY. HOUNDED AGAIN BY THE REGIME'S FORCES FROM BOTH THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH, HELICOPTERS MOVE OVERHEAD AS TROOPS ON THE GROUND PREPARE FOR A MAJOR ASSAULT. ACTIVIST GROUPS IN SYRIA CLAIM THAT THE GOVERNMENT TROOPS ARE BEING REDEPLOYED FOR A COMING OPERATION. SUCH CLAIMS ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO VERIFY, BUT SEVERAL SOURCES NOW REPORT TWO SYRIAN ARMY CONVOYS-- THE FIRST HEADING FROM HAMA MILITARY AIRPORT, APPARENTLY ABOUT 170 VEHICLES, INCLUDING TANKS. AND THESE ARE MASSING SOUTH OF THE CITY. ANOTHER COLUMN IS HEADING TO ALEPPO FROM IDLIB PROVINCE. WITH THE REBEL COUNTERATTACKS UNDER WAY, HERE'S WHAT'S CLAIMED TO BE THE WRECKAGE OF ONE SMALL PATH OF THE IDLIB CONVOY AND NEARBY A CAPTURED GOVERNMENT TANK. THE REBEL ATTACKS CONTINUE ELSEWHERE. HERE IT'S CLAIMED THEY'VE ATTACKED TWO ARMY BASES. IN HOMS SHELLING BY GOVERNMENT FORCES HAS SCARCELY CEASED FOR MORE THAN THREE MONTHS BUT THEY STILL DON'T CONTROL THE ENTIRE CITY. THE CAPITAL QUIETER TODAY, THOUGH STILL SOME OCCASIONAL SHELL FIRE ON THE OUTSKIRTS. BUT IF THE REBELS CAN NOT WIN IN THE MAJOR CITIES THEY CERTAINLY APPEAR TO BE GAINING GROUND BY BEING WILLING TO INVITE ALONG CAMERAS. YET HERE IN DAMASCUS ALL OUR REQUESTS TO FILM WITH THE SYRIAN ARMY HAVE BEEN REFUSED POINT BLANK. CAN WE SPEAK TO A GOVERNMENT MINUTER? IMPOSSIBLE. WHAT ABOUT A GOVERNMENT SPOKE MAN EVEN? NO CHANCE. THE REGIME APPARENTLY THINKS THIS WILL STILL DO-- INSIDE THE ENDLESS PICTURES OF THE GREAT LEADER AND HIS DAD. THE SAME VIDEO OF MILITARY ANTICS PLAYED ON T.V. OVER AND OVER AGAIN EVERYDAY. AND OUTSIDE THE FLAGS, THE MURALS, THE DEVICES OF A REGIME STRANGELY LOST IN PERSONALITY POLITICS OF THE COLD WAR. SOME SMALL OPPOSITION PARTIES ARE TOLERATED HERE SO LONG AS THEY'RE POWERLESS. INCREDIBLY, IT'S EASIER TO INTERVIEW ONE OF THEIR LEADERS THAN IT IS TO SPEAK TO ANYBODY FROM THE GOVERNMENT. THIS MAN IS CHIEF OF THE OPPOSITION PARTY AND A LAWYER IN DAMASCUS. HE'S BEEN BEATEN AND TORTURED BY THE REGIME IN THE PAST BUT HE'S STILL NOT AFRAID TO CALL IT, EVEN NOW.

>> ( translated ): PRESIDENT ASSAD SHOULD STEP DOWN AND HAND OVER POWER TO THE PEOPLE. WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD AND ORGANIZE NEW FREE ELECTIONS FOR THE PEOPLE TO CHOOSE THE GOVERNMENT THEY WANT.

>> Reporter: FOR NOW ALL THAT SOUNDS LIKE A DISTANT DREAM.

>> Woodruff: FOR A FIRST-HAND LOOK INTO EVENTS ON THE GROUND IN SYRIA I'M JOINED NOW BY NPR'S KELLY McEVERS. SHE'S JUST COMPLETED A WEEK-LONG REPORTING TRIP TO NORTHWESTERN SYRIA, NEAR THE TURKISH BORDER, WHERE SHE VISITED A NUMBER OF TOWNS CURRENTLY UNDER REBEL CONTROL. KELLY McEVERS, WELCOME. AND HOW DID YOU DECIDE WHERE YOU WERE GOING INSIDE SYRIA? WE HAVE A MAP I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO SHOW PEOPLE.

>> THE REBELS HAVE BASICALLY CARVED OUT THEIR OWN SORT OF UNOFFICIAL BUFFER ZONE THERE IN NORTHERN SYRIA RIGHT NEXT TO THE TURKISH BORDER. FOR THEM, THE BENEFIT IS THEY'RE ABLE TO GET THEIR WOUNDED OUT INTO TURKEY MORE EASILY THAN THEY COULD BEFORE AND THAT THEY CAN BASICALLY GET WEAPONS AND MONEY INTO SYRIA FROM THAT... FROM THE TURKISH AREA. SO FOR US IT MADE SENSE TO GET A SENSE OF HUE WHO THE REBELS ARE TO SPEND TIME IN THE REGION THEY CONTROL INSTEAD OF TRYING TO COWER AND HIDE AND GO WITH THEM UNDERCOVER FROM PLACE TO PLACE TO BE IN THIS SWATH OF TOWNS AND VILLAGES THAT THEY CONTROL. ROUGH WHERE YOU HAVE THEY ARE RELATIVELY SAFE. FREE FROM GOVERNMENT ASSAULT ON A REGULAR BASIS?

>> AT THIS TIME. IF YOU WERE TO TRY TO LOOK AT THE MAP AND SAY "WHERE EXACTLY DO THE REBELS CONTROL? EVERYDAY IT CHANGES A BIT, IT MORPHS AND CHANGES. ON THE EDGES OF THE AREA THEY CONTROL THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT TAKE A TOWN BACK. THERE WAS ONE TOWN WHEN WE WERE THERE THAT SWITCHED HANDS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE REBELS FOUR TIMES. WHY? BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT REALIZES THAT THIS BORDER AREA IS IMPORTANT TO THE REBELS. THEY REALIZE IT IS A BUFFER ZONE AND THEY ARE TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL BUT OBVIOUSLY GOVERNMENT'S ARMY IS STRETCHED AND ITS PRIORITIES ARE ELSEWHERE: NAMELY DAMASCUS AND ALEPPO.

>> Woodruff: TELL US ABOUT THE REBELS YOU MET. YOU TALKED TO A NUMBER OF THEM. WHO ARE THEY? WHAT ARE THEY LIKE?

>> IT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION AND ONE A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT AN ANSWER RIGHT NOW. THEY CALL THEMSELVES THE FREE SYRIAN ARMY BUT THAT'S ABOUT AS FAR AS THE UNIFICATION GOES. THEY DON'T NECESSARILY ANSWER TO A SINGLE LEADER. THEY'RE A BUNCH OF DISPIRIT GROUPS SPREAD OUT A... DISPARATE GROUPS SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ONE UNIT MIGHT BE ONLY EIGHT GUYS. MOSTLY CIVILIANS. THE IMAGE IS THAT MOST ARE DEFECTED SOLDIERS, A LOT OF THOSE GUYS GO TO THESE REFUGEE CAMPS IN TURKEY FOR FEAR OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THEIR FAMILY AFTER THEY DEFECT. SO MOST OF THE GUYS WE'VE LET CIVILIANS, WORKERS, FARMERS, PEOPLE WHO DECIDED TO TAKE UP ARMS AND DEFEND THIS UPRISING, THIS REVOLUTION AGAINST THE PRESIDENT.

>> Woodruff: AND RELATIVELY LIGHTLY ARMED IN CONTRAST TO WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS.

>> THEY ARE SO OUTGUNNED RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE BASICALLY OPERATING WITH RIFLES AND ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADES AND HOMEMADE BOMBS. THAT'S ANOTHER KEY COMPONENT TO THEIR ARGUENAL RIGHT NOW. THAT'S HOW THEY DEAL WITH REGIME TANKS. BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A FULLY EQUIPPED ARMY WITH TANKS, ARTILLERY, MORTARS, HELICOPTERS AND NOW WE HAVE SEEN JETS BEING... EMPLOYED IN THIS FIGHT BY THE REGIME'S ARMY. YOU CAN SEE THAT THE REBELS ARE THE UNDERDOGS HERE.

>> Woodruff: KELLY McEVERS, WHAT ABOUT THE CIVILIANS YOU TALKED TO? WHAT ARE THEY SAYING ABOUT THIS? ARE THEY CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE? ARE THEY HOPING IT'S ALL GOING TO BE OVER? ARE THEY LINING UP WITH ONE SIDE OR ANOTHER?

>> I WAS IN JUST A VERY SMALL POCKET OF SYRIA SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT YOU KNOW I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR THE PEOPLE THAT I WAS WITH W AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME BY AND LARGE IN THESE VILLAGES THEY SEE THE REBELS AS THEIR ONLY HOPE. THEY SAY 16, 17 MONTHS AGO WE WENT INTO THE STREETS TO PROTEST AGAINST OUR PRESIDENT. WE SAID WE WANTED TO BRING DOWN OUR PRESIDENT. THE REGIME SHOT AT US, TORTURED US AND NO ONE CAME TO OUR AID EXCEPT THESE GUYS. AND MAYBE SOME ARE MY COUSINS AND UNCLES AND BROTHERS. THEY PICKED UP GUNS, THEY CAME HERE TO DEFEND US AND WE WELCOME THEM. THEY SAY THIS DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE REBELS' PRESENCE IN THEIR TOWN SOMETIMES BRINGS THE IRE OF THE GOVERNMENT. IT MIGHT MEAN THAT CIVILIAN HOMES GET SHELLED. THAT PEOPLE DIED. THEY SAY WE DON'T CARE, WE'RE WILLING TO TAKE THAT RISK BECAUSE THESE ARE THE PEOPLE HERE TO PROTECT US. SO THE REBELS HAVE HEARTS AND MINDS IN THESE TOWNS.

>> Reporter: THE MORALE OVERALL THOUGH WAS WHAT? WHAT DID YOU FIND?

>> PEOPLE WERE WILLING TO STAY ON MESSAGE, ESPECIALLY WHEN TALKING TO WESTERN JOURNALISTS "WE SUPPORT THE REBELS, WE SUPPORT THE CAUSE. ANY DAY NOW WE'LL TAKE DOWN THE REGIME." WHILE I WAS INSIDE SYRIA THERE WAS THIS HIGH LEVEL ATTACK INSIDE DAMASCUS THAT KILLED FOUR HIGH-RANKING OFFICIALS IN THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT. I THINK THAT WAS A REAL MORALE BOOST AND A FEW DAYS AFTER THAT YOU SAW A LOT OF UNITS GOING TO ALEPPO. I WAS VERY CLOSE TO ALEPPO, SYRIA'S LARGEST CITY IN THE NORTH. YOU SAW A LOT OF REBEL UNITS GOING THERE GOING TO TAKE UP THE FIGHT AND GOING ALL THE WAY TO DAMASCUS AS WELL. IT LOOKS LIKE THE GOVERNMENT HAS REGAINED CONTROL IN DAMASCUS AND MAY SOON DO THE SAME IN ALEPPO. THAT MAY TURN AROUND QUICKLY.

>> Woodruff: YOU HAD INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE-- REBELS AND CITIZENS-- ABOUT WHY THE UNITED STATES ISN'T DOING MORE. EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?

>> I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ANGER. I THINK PEOPLE LOOK AT THE CASE OF LIBYA AND OTHER PLACES WHERE THE U.S. OR AT LEAST INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS DONE MORE TO INTERVENE ON THE DIPLOMATIC LEVEL, ON THE MILITARY LEVEL. I THINK SYRIANS ARE SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT THEY DON'T WANT AN IRAQ SITUATION. MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY "WE DON'T WANT ANYONE TO COME IN AND INVADE AND OCCUPY OUR COUNTRY." THEY'RE ALSO SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT THE LIBYA SCENARIO PROBABLY DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR NATO AND THE UNITED STATES.

>> Pelley: THE NO-FLY ZONE.

>> IT WOULD BE MUCH MORE COMPLICATED IN SYRIA. THEY GET THAT. BUT THEY SAY HOW ABOUT SOME COORDINATION? HOW ABOUT HELP? HOW ABOUT TRAINING? THERE'S THINGS YOU COULD DO. YOU COULD FLY AIRPLANES OVER OUR COUNTRY AND TELL US, HEY, THERE'S TANKS MOVING THIS WAY AND NO TANKS ON THIS ROAD. RECONNAISSANCE, INTELLIGENCE. THOSE THINGS THAT WESTERN MILITARYS ARE GOOD AT. THAT SEE THAT THAT'S NOT HAPPENING. IT'S NOT MUCH LONGER THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE WILLING TO ACCEPT THIS HELP. AT SOME POINT I THINK THEY'LL REFUSE IT AT ANY COST AND IT MIGHT BE TOO LATE FOR INTERVENTION.

>> Woodruff: KELLY McEVERS, NPR, AN EXTRAORDINARY TRIP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> Woodruff: AND ONLINE, YOU CAN FIND LINKS TO FOUR OF KELLY McEVERS' REPORTS FOR NPR THIS WEEK, FROM THE TURKISH-SYRIAN BORDER.

>> Warner: STILL TO COME ON THE "NEWSHOUR": THE COUNTDOWN TO THE OLYMPICS; ROMNEY'S OLYMPICS FAUX PAS CATCHES FIRE ON TWITTER; BIG MONEY FOR BIG FISH AND JOBS FOR AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES. BUT FIRST, THE OTHER NEWS OF THE DAY. HERE'S HARI SREENIVASAN.

>> Sreenivasan: WALL STREET STAGED A MAJOR RALLY TODAY, TRIGGERED BY THE HEAD OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK. HE PLEDGED TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO KEEP THE EURO MONETARY UNION INTACT, INCLUDING STEPS TO HELP HARD-PRESSED ITALY AND SPAIN. THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE RESPONDED WITH A GAIN OF NEARLY 212 POINTS TO CLOSE NEAR 12,888. THE NASDAQ ROSE 39 POINTS TO CLOSE AT 2,893. THE DROUGHT IN THE U.S. MID-SECTION IS RAPIDLY GETTING WORSE. A WEEKLY GOVERNMENT REPORT TODAY SAID MORE THAN 20% OF THE NATION'S LANDMASS IS NOW IN EXTREME OR EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT. SEPARATELY, THE AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT SAID WEDNESDAY THE DROUGHT WILL DRIVE UP FOOD PRICES THIS YEAR AND NEXT. FOR MORE ON THE FOOD FORECAST, I SPOKE EARLIER WITH RICHARD VOLPE, A RESEARCH ECONOMIST WITH THE AG DEPARTMENT. RICHARD VOLEPY, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> OF COURSE.

>> Sreenivasan: PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE. HOW SIGNIFICANT OF A JUMP IN PRICES IS GOING TO BE AT THE SUPERMARKET NEXT YEAR?

>> WELL, THE FIRST THING THAT I NEED TO STRESS IS THAT THIS JUMP WHICH WE'RE EXPECTING AS A RESULT OF THE ONGOING DROUGHT IN THE MIDWEST IS MOSTLY GOING TO OCCUR IN 2013. SO IT'S IN 2013 WHERE WE NOW EXPECT RETAIL FOOD PRICES OR GROCERY STORE PRICES TO GO UP 3% TO 4%. NOW, THE HISTORICAL NORM FOR THE LAST 20 OR SO YEARS GOING BACK TO 1980 IS FOR GROCERY POINTS TO GO UP 2.8% OR 2.9% YEAR OVER YEAR. SO THAT'S THE... WHAT WE EXPECT TO HAPPEN EVERY YEAR. IF OUR OUTLOOK FOR 2013 IS 3% TO 4%, THAT IS, OF COURSE, ABOVE NORMAL BUT TO PUT IN THE PERSPECTIVE WE SAW GROCERY PRICES GO UP 8.4% IN 2011 SO WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING LESS THAN 2011 AND IF WE GO BACK TO THE LAST TIME FOOD PRICES JUMPED UP, '07 AND '08, WE SAW BACK-TO-BACK JUMPS OF 4% AND 6%. SO ARE WE LOOKING AT AN INCREASE? YES, BUT WE'VE SEEN BIGGER JUMPS IN RECENT HISTORY.

>> Sreenivasan: HELP CONNECT THE DOTS FOR PEOPLE ON WHY IT IS THE DROUGHT IN ONE REGION AND CORN PRICES GOING RUN SO IMPORTANT TO THE ENTIRE FOOD SYSTEM.

>> CORN IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST COMMODITY GROWN IN THE U.S. AND IT'S THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT COMMODITY FOR PRODUCING RETAIL FOOD. IT'S A COMPONENT OF ABOUT 75% EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY YOU COULD BUY IN THE SUPERMARKET. BUT THE NUMBER ONE MOST IMPORTANT WAY CORN PRICES WILL AFFECT CONSUMERS IS THAT HIGHER CORN PRICES LEADS TO HIGHER FEED PRICES WHICH IN TURN LEADS TO HIGHER ANIMAL PRODUCTS AND HIGHER PRICES FOR THE PRODUCT THAT COME FROM ANIMALS. SO ANIMAL PRODUCTS ARE GOING UP. SO WE START TO SEE IMPACTS STARTING AT THE STALE END OF THIS YEAR AND INTO 2013 FOR ALL ANIMAL-BASED PRODUCTS. BEEF, PORK, POULTRY, DAIRY, EGGS. THAT'S WHERE WE'LL SEE THE BIGGEST IMPACT.

>> Sreenivasan: RICHARD VOLPE, AN ECONOMIST AT THE U.S.D.A., THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. FLORIDA HAS RECALLED NEARLY... FORD HAS RECALLED SOME OF THEIR ESCAPE S.U.V.s, THEIR THROTTLES CAN STICK. THE WARNING AFFECTS MODELS FROM 2001 TO 2004. MOST WERE SOLD IN THE U.S. JUST LAST WEEK THE AUTOMAKER RECALLED 11,500 OF ITS NEW 2013 ESCAPES FOR FUEL LINES THAT CAN CRACK AND START FIRES. INVESTIGATORS IN THE COLORADO SHOOTINGS WORKED TODAY ON A PACKAGE SENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO-DENVER. THE ALLEGED GUNMAN JAMES HOLMES HAD BEEN A GRAD STUDENT THERE. UNCONFIRMED REPORTS SAID THE PACKAGE HELD A NOTEBOOK DESCRIBING THE IMPENDING ATTACK. MEANWHILE, MORE THAN 1,200 MOURNERS FILLED A DENVER CHURCH FOR THE SECOND FUNERAL SINCE FRIDAY'S MASS SHOOTING IN AURORA, COLORADO. AND IN WASHINGTON, THE U.S. HOUSE ADOPTED A RESOLUTION HONORING THE VICTIMS AND FIRST RESPONDERS.

>> AS A FATHER, I CAN'T IMAGINE THE GREAT LOSS OF FAMILIES, OF FRIENDS, OF VICTIMS OF THIS HORRENDOUS CRIME. AND OUR HEARTS, OUR PRAYERS, OUR THOUGHTS GO WITH THEM AS WE BUILD A STRONGER COMMUNITY GOING FORWARD.

>> WE CAN MOURN FOR THE VICTIMS, WHICH IS APPROPRIATE THIS WEEK. BUT IT IS OUR CHALLENGE AS LEADERS OF OUR STATE AND LEADERS OF OUR COUNTRY TO GO ON FROM TODAY AND TO SAY, WHAT CAN WE SERIOUSLY DO AS A NATION TO MAKE SURE THAT NO TRAGEDY OF THIS SCOPE OR HORROR EVER HAPPENS IN THIS COUNTRY AGAIN.

>> Sreenivasan: IN A SPEECH LAST NIGHT, PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID HE'D SUPPORT STEPPED-UP BACKGROUND CHECKS TO BAR CRIMINALS AND THE MENTALLY ILL FROM BUYING WEAPONS. BUT REPUBLICAN MITT ROMNEY TOLD NBC NEWS THAT CHANGING THE EXISTING LAWS WOULD NOT PREVENT SUCH TRAGEDIES. IN IRAQ TODAY, CLASHES INTENSIFIED BETWEEN SECURITY FORCES AND MILITANTS IN THE NORTHEAST, IN A POSSIBLE AL- QAEDA BID TO REGAIN LOST GROUND. GUN BATTLES HAVE RAGED FOR TWO DAYS AROUND THE TOWN OF HADID NORTH OF BAQOUBA. SO FAR, AT LEAST 19 PEOPLE HAVE DIED. DURING THE DAY'S FIGHTING, AN IRAQI ARMY HELICOPTER CAME UNDER ATTACK AND HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING. A SCANDAL THAT'S ROILED THE TOP RANKS OF CHINA'S COMMUNIST PARTY TOOK A NEW TURN TODAY. GU KAILAI-- THE WIFE OF AN OUSTED MEMBER OF THE RULING POLITBURO-- WAS CHARGED WITH MURDERING A BRITISH BUSINESSMAN. THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON STATE T.V. SAID SHE ALLEGEDLY KILLED THE VICTIM AT A HOTEL IN CHONGQING LAST NOVEMBER.

>> ( translated ): ACCORDING TO XINHUA, THE STATE NEWS AGENCY'S RELEASE, THE INVESTIGATION RESULTS SHOW THAT GU KAILAI AND HER SON, SURNAMED BO, HAD CONFLICTS WITH BRITISH CITIZEN NEIL HEYWOOD OVER ECONOMIC INTERESTS. GU KAILAI POISONED NEIL HEYWOOD TO DEATH IN THE CONSIDERATION THAT HEYWOOD POSED A THREAT TO HER SON'S SECURITY.

>> Sreenivasan: THE REPORT DID NOT MENTION GU'S HUSBAND, BO XILAI. HE WAS STRIPPED OF HIS COMMUNIST PARTY POSTS FOR UNSPECIFIED DISCIPLINE VIOLATIONS, LAST APRIL. HE REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY PARTY OFFICIALS. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE DAY'S MAJOR STORIES. NOW, BACK TO MARGARET.

>> Warner: THE 2012 OLYMPICS OPEN IN LONDON TOMORROW AMID CONCERNS OVER WHETHER THE HOST CITY IS FULLY READY. TODAY, LONDONERS TURNED OUT IN FORCE AS THE OLYMPIC FLAME WAS CARRIED THROUGH THE CITY. WE START WITH A REPORT FROM GERENT VINCENT OF "INDEPENDENT TELEVISION NEWS" ON THE COUNTDOWN BEFORE THE GAMES BEGIN.

>> Reporter: THE TORCH WENT ROUND SOME LONDON LANDMARKS TO THE CATHEDRAL AND THE THEATER. THIS SHOW IS BEING PUT ON BY THE UNITED KINGDOM. SO ON THE PLAYING FIELDS OF EAST LONDON ITS FRONT OF HOUSE TEAM IS HARD AT WORK. THAT'S TWO PRINCES AND A DUCHESS

>> WATCHING ME ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD IS NEVER A PRETTY SIGHT. THE EXPRESSION "GIRAFFE ON ICE" SPRINGS TO MIND. (LAUGHTER) CATHERINE, ON THE OTHER HAND, WITH A TENNIS RACKET OR HOCKEY STICK IS SOMETHING TO BEHOLD. BUT WHAT ALL THREE OF US HAVE IN COMMON IS THAT WE LOVE SPORTS. FOR US TO HOLD THE OLYMPIC AND THE PAR OLYMPIC GAMES IN LONDON IS A GREAT MOMENT FOR OUR NATION.

>> Reporter: AT THE OLYMPIC PARK THERE IS A READY STILLNESS. QUIET PREPARATIONS BEFORE THE STORM OF COMPETITION. BUT THE STREETS OF LONDON ARE DRESSED FOR THE PARTY. IN THE YEARS SINCE THE LAST OLYMPIAD, ECONOMIC CRISIS HAS STALKED THE GLOBE SO IN UNCERTAIN TIMES LONDON HAS THE CHANCE TO REMIND THE WORLD OF SOMETHING THAT IT CAN BE SURE OF-- THAT SPORTING CONTEST CAN PROVIDE FUEL FOR INSPIRATION AND CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION. AND IF THE CELEBRATION MEETS CELEBRITY, WELL, THERE HAS BEEN PLENTY OF THEM ON HAND TO HELP CARRY THAT TORCH.

>> I WAS NERVOUS AND MY MOUTH WENT DRY TO GO ON STAGE, YEAH. I REALIZED I WAS PART OF SOMETHING MUCH, MUCH BIGGER THAN I'VE EVER BEEN PART OF BEFORE.

>> Reporter: THE SPRINTERS, THE CYCLISTS, THE SAILORS, THE SWIMMERS, THE GYMNASTS, THE BOXERS, ROWERS, JUMPERS, JAVELIN THROWERS AND SPECTATORS ALL ARE NOW PART OF SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER THAN THEMSELVES-- THE OLYMPIC SPIRIT IS RUNNING THROUGH LONDON AND ITS PEOPLE, IT SEEMS, ARE VERY HAPPY THAT IT'S HERE.

>> Woodruff: RAY SUAREZ

>> Woodruff: RAY SUAREZ PICKS UP THE STORY FROM THERE WITH A PREVIEW OF KEY EVENTS AND ATHLETES AND HOW THINGS LOOK IN LONDON TONIGHT.

>> Suarez: FOR THAT WE'RE JOINED FROM LONDON BY CHRISTINE BRENNAN. SHE'S COVERING HER 15th OLYMPICS FOR "U.S.A. TODAY" AND ABC AMONG OTHERS. AND CHRISTINE NOW THAT WE'RE JUST IN ADVANCE OF THE OPENING CEREMONIES WITH SO MANY ATHLETES AND SO MANY EVENTS. ARE THERE CERTAIN COMPETITIONS WHERE THE VENUES A R ALREADY SELLING SNOUT WHERE THERE'S BUZZ IN ADVANCE OF THESE GAMES?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY. IN FACT, EVEN JUST THE STREETS OF LONDON TODAY, RAYE, WITH THE TORCH GOING THROUGH. I'VE COVERED A LOT OF THESE AND I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT MANY PEOPLE AND THE LOCATIONS, THE BACKDROPS-- BUCKINGHAM PALACE, WESTMINSTER BRIDGE, ALL OF... BIG BEN-- IT'S EXTRAORDINARY. BUT YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE VENUES. SWIM WILLING GET GOING ON SATURDAY AND MICHAEL PHELPS AND EVERYONE IN THE WORLD KNOWS ABOUT THESE TWO AMERICANS, MICHAEL PHELPS AND RYAN LASSIE. ESPECIALLY DIFFERENCE FOUR YEARS AGO IN BEIJING. AND GYMNASTICS AND THE BRITTS ARE ALL ABOUT CYCLING AND ROWING AND SO I REALLY FEEL LIKE IN THE LAST DAY OR TWO THIS HAS ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THIS OLYMPICS THAT I DON'T REMEMBER THIS KIND OF BUZZ GOING INTO SO MUCH OF A BUZZ GOING INTO PREVIOUS GAMES.

>> Suarez: AMERICAN VIEWERS ARE ABLE TO CONSUME MORE OF THE GAMES THAN EVER BEFORE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY'RE BEING DELIVERED. SO WHY DON'T YOU PULL UP A SEAT ON THE VIRTUAL COUCH NEXT TO THEM AND HELP THEM FIGURE OUT WHAT TO WATCH OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

>> WELL, WE MAY CALL THIS THE TWITTER OLYMPICS OR THE LIVE-STREAMING OLYMPICS WHEN IT'S ALL OVER. THE DAYS OF COMING HOME AND WATCHING THE NETWORK FROM 8:00 TO 11:00, NOT MISSING A SECOND OF IT, THOSE DAYS ARE LONG GONE. AND SO NBC, OF COURSE, IS THE RIGHTS HOLDER FOR UNITED STATES AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING LIVE STREAMING. ALL OF US WHO ARE NOT RIGHTS HOLDERS ARE GOING TO BE DOING... TWEETING AND ON FACEBOOK AND BLOGGING AND IT'S GOING TO BE INSTANTANEOUS AND I GUESS I WOULD SAY TO THE FANS YOU CAN PROBABLY GEAR YOUR COVERAGE, WHAT YOU WANT, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FIND OUT THE SPLIT TIMES OF RACES, PRELIMINARY SWIMMING THE GYMNASTIC, WHO FALLS OFF THE BALANCE BEAM AND WHO DOESN'T AND THAT'S GOING TO COME INTO YOUR HAND HELD DEVICE INSTANTANEOUS WE'VE NEVER SEEN AN OLYMPICS LIKE THIS.

>> Suarez: ALONG WITH THE PHELPS MATCHUP, THERE ARE OTHER ONES SHAPING UP, INCLUDING IN THE 100 METER DASH.

>> USAIN BOLT IS BACK, PEOPLE MAY REMEMBER HIM FOR THE GUY THAT WAS KIND OF RUNNING SIDE WAY IT IS LAST TEN, 15 METERS IN BEIJING. HE'S BACK. HE'S GOT HIS JAMAICAN COUNTRYMEN WHO ARE GOING TO GIVE HIM A RUN FOR HIS MONEY. THE JOKE IS THAT IT'S THE JAMAICAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. BUT TRACK AND FIELD ABSOLUTELY. GYMNASTICS. THE U.S. WOMEN AGAINST CHINA. OF COURSE FOUR YEARS AGO CHINA WON A VERY CONTROVERSIAL GOLD MEDAL IN THAT TEAM COMPETITION. UNITED STATES WOMEN WANT TO GET THAT GOLD MEDAL BACK AND WE'LL SEE THESE PINT-SIZED ATHLETES COMPETING AS IF THEY'RE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN IN THE N.F.L. IN TERMS OF HOW HARD AND STRONGLY THEY WILL COMPETE. ESPECIALLY FOR THE AMERICANS TO WIN THAT GOLD MEDAL.

>> Reporter:.

>> Suarez: OSCAR PISTOR I CAN'T SAY HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR A PLACE INHE OLYMPIC TRACK AND FIELD COMPETITION AND HE FINALLY GOT IT. NOT THE PARAOLYMPICS BUT THE OLYMPICS. TELL US MORE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT. HE RUNS ON TWO CARBON FIBER LEGS CHEETAH LEGS, AS THEY'RE KNOWN. BOTH OF HIS LEGS WERE AMPUTATE BED LOW HIS KNEE WHEN HE WAS 11 MONTHS OLD SO HERE'S A MAN WHO SOME SAY HE'S CHEATING BECAUSE HE HAS THESE SYNTHETIC LEGS. IT SOUNDS BIZARRE, DOESN'T IT, RAY, TO SAY A MAN WHO HASN'T HAD HIS LEGS SINCE HE WAS 11 MONTHS OLD SOMEHOW HAS AN ADVANTAGE. TO ME TO OSCAR PISTORIAS STORY IS A STORY OF INCLUSION. IT'S A STORY TELLING ATHLETES WITH SOME KIND OF PHYSICAL ISSUE THAT THEY ARE WELCOME IN THE GREATEST EVENT OF THE WORLD BUT THE FLOODGATES HAVEN'T OPEN. IT'S NOT AS IF PEOPLE WITH ROCKETS ON THEIR FEET WILL SHOW UP AT THE GAMES. HE'S ONE OF A GENERATION. HE'LL BE FASCINATING TO WATCH IN THE MEN'S 400 METERS AND ALSO THE SOUTH AFRICAN RELAY, THE FOUR BY 400 METERS LATER IN THE GAME.

>> Suarez: LONDON CAN BE AT THE BEST OF TIMES A TOUGH PLACE TO TRAVEL THROUGH AND THE OLYMPIC ORGANIZERS HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO GET LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE FROM PLACE TO PLACE. IS IT WORKING?

>> I'D GIVE THEM A C+ RIGHT NOW AND THE GAMES HAVEN'T STARTED YET. I'VE BEEN IN TOWN ALMOST A WEEK. IT IS TOUGH TO GET ACROSS TOWN. THIS WILL BE THE MOST CHALLENGING OLYMPICS IN TERMS OF GOING PLACE TO PLACE. BEIJING HAD EVERYTHING IN WALKING DISTANCE, THE BIG EVENTS ANYWAY, SWIMMING, TRACK AND FIELD. HERE TO GOO FROM GYMNASTICS TO TRACK AND FIELD IT COULD TAKEN A HOUR AND A HALF. THERE ARE OLYMPIC LANES-- THIS HAS HAPPENED IN ATLANTA, BARS LOW THAT, L.A. BACK IN 1984. SO THERE IS A WAY TO GET THE ATHLETES FROM PLACE TO PLACE. I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE TOO MANY TRAFFIC JAMS TYING UP ATHLETES BUT FANS, SPECK SPECTATORS AND PEOPLE WHO HAPPEN TO BE IN LONDON, WOW. THIS MAY BE THE MOST CLOGGED OLYMPICS I'VE SEEN GOING BACK TO L.A. AND 84.

>> Suarez: IS THE SECURITY SBRUS THERE ARE 25,000 SECURITY PEOPLE INCLUDING 7,000 SOLDIERS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT AND THE MAN I'VE SPOKEN WITH IN CHARGE OF THE OLYMPICS FEELS VERY GOOD. HE'S TOLD ME THEY FEEL THEY ARE IN GOOD SHAPE HEADING INTO THE OPENING CEREMONIES. THIS IS THE THING YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT. AND OF COURSE IN 2005 LONDON WON THE OLYMPIC GAMES. THE VERY NEXT DAY THE LONDON TRANSIT SYSTEM WAS TARGETED BY SUICIDE BOMBERS AND 50 SOME PEOPLE WERE KILLED. THAT WAS THE VERY NEXT DAY. RAY, THERE WAS NEVER A CONNECTION MADE BETWEEN THE BOMBINGS AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT THE DAY BEFORE THAT LONDON WON THE GAMES BUT I THINK IT'S IN THE BACK OF EVERYONE'S MIND THAT THIS IS A MELTING POT IN THE BEST WAY, A DEMOCRACY, AND A FREE COUNTRY AS OPPOSED TO BEIJING AND CHINA FOUR YEARS AGO SO THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT. BUT WITH THAT COMES ALL OF THE POSSIBLE DANGERS OF A SOCIETY THAT IS OPEN AND WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND GO FREELY. AND I DON'T THINK THE SECURITY IS OVERWHELMING AT ALL. IN FACT, IN MANY PARTS OF THE CITY YOU CAN GO AND YOU DON'T SEE ANY EXTRA SECURITY. IT'S AROUND THE OLYMPIC PARK WHERE I AM NOW, THAT'S WHERE IT'S AN ARMED CAMP AND I'M AFRAID THAT'S THE AS IT SHOULD BE KNOWING THE HISTORY OF THE GAMES.

>> Suarez: CHRISTINE BRENNAN, GOOD TO TALK TO YOU. THANKS FOR TALKING WITH US.

>> RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Warner: AMONG THE MANY AMERICANS IN LONDON FOR THE GAMES IS PRESUMPTIVE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE MITT ROMNEY. HE'S AT THE START OF A THREE-NATION TRIP INTENDED TO BURNISH HIS FOREIGN POLICY CREDENTIALS. BUT ROMNEY, WHO RAN THE 2002 WINTER OLYMPICS IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, IRKED HIS BRITISH HOSTS BY APPEARING TO QUESTION THEIR ABILITY TO STAGE THE GAMES.

>> Reporter: HIS STUMBLE CAME IN AN INTERVIEW IN LONDON YESTERDAY, WHEN NBC'S BRIAN WILLIAMS ASKED WHETHER-- TO ROMNEY'S EXPERIENCED EYE-- THE BRITISH APPEARED READY TO HOST THE GAMES.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO KNOW JUST HOW WELL IT WILL TURN OUT. THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT WERE DISCONCERTING, THE STORIES ABOUT THE PRIVATE SECURITY FIRM NOT HAVING ENOUGH PEOPLE, SUPPOSED STRIKE OF THE IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS OFFICIALS, THAT OBVIOUSLY IS NOT SOMETHING WHICH IS ENCOURAGING.

>> Reporter: TODAY, IN A VISIT TO OLYMPIC PARK, PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON ISSUED A BIT OF A REBUKE.

>> WE ARE HOLDING AN OLYMPIC GAMES IN ONE OF THE BUSIEST, MOST ACTIVE, BUSTLING CITIES ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. OF COURSE, IT'S EASIER IF YOU HOLD AN OLYMPIC GAMES IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. YOU KNOW I VISITED NAY PYI TAW IN BURMA RECENTLY AND THEY HAVE SIX LANE HIGHWAYS AND NO CARS ON THEM. THIS IS A BUSY, BUSTLING CITY, SO INEVITABLY YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE CHALLENGES.

>> Reporter: AND AFTER MEETING AT 10 DOWNING STREET WITH CAMERON LATER TODAY, ROMNEY TOOK PAINS TO BACKTRACK.

>> I AM VERY DELIGHTED WITH THE PROSPECTS OF A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL OLYMPIC GAMES. WHAT I HAVE SEEN SHOWS IMAGINATION AND FORETHOUGHT AND A LOT OF ORGANIZATION, AND I EXPECT THE GAMES TO BE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL.

>> Warner: FOR A LOOK AT HOW THIS IS PLAYING OUT IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA WORLD WE'RE JOINED BY TWO JOURNALISTS FROM THE WEB SITE DAILY DOWNLOAD. LAUREN ASHE BURN IS THE SITE'S EDITOR AND CHIEF AND HOWARD KURTZ IS HOST OF CNN'S "RELIABLE SOURCES." LAUREN THIS HAS BEEN HEAVILY COVERED IN NEWSPAPERS AND IN THE WIRES. HOW IS IT PLAYING OUT IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA REALM?

>> IT'S NOT PLAYING OUT VERY WELL.

>> Warner: FOR ROMNEY?

>> YES, FOR ROMNEY, I THINK PEOPLE FEEL HE DOESN'T GET IT, LIKE SHOWING UP TO A DINNER PARTY AND CRITICIZING THE HOST'S TABLE EVEN BEFORE HE SITS DOWN. AND I BELIEVE THAT FROM READING THIS ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK AND BLOGS THAT IT HASN'T DONE HIM ANY FAVORS.

>> I'M SAYING THIS IS PLAYING AS A GOLD MEDAL GAFFE. THE FIRST OLYMPICS EVENT, ONE PERSON TWEETED, FULFILLING A VOW NOT TO INSULT OBAMA OVERSEAS ROMNEY INSULTS DAVID CAMERON INSTEAD. I'M NOT SO SURE IT WAS A GAFFE. I THINK ROMNEY WANTED TO EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT SECURITY PERHAPS TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT A DECADE AGO WHEN HE RAN THE SALT LAKE CITY OLYMPICS THERE WERE NO SECURITY PROBLEMS.

>> Woodruff:.

>> Warner: BUT PRIME MINISTER CAMERON HAD A QUICK REJOINEDER TO THAT.

>> HE DID.

>> HE SAID IF YOU WANT TO HOLD THE GAMES IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, BE MY GUEST, THIS IS LONDON.

>> Warner: HAS THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN TRIED TO MAKE HAY OUT OF THIS?

>> THEY HAVE ONLINE. THEY HAVE BEEN OUT THERE TALKING ABOUT THIS AND OTHER COMMENTS HE'S MADE ABOUT ANGLO-SAXON, WHICH WE CAN TALK ABOUT.

>> Warner: EXPLAIN THAT. THE

>> IN FAIRNESS, IT WASN'T ROMNEY WHO SAID AS QUOTED BY THE "TELEGRAPH" THAT OBAMA DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE ANGLO-SAXON HERITAGE SHARED BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND UNITED KINGDOM. IT WAS TWO UNNAMED ROMNEY ADVISORS QUOTED BY THE PAPER. ROMNEY PUSHED BACK SAYING HE DOESN'T KNOW WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE. SO IT'S A CLASSIC BRITISH PRESS JUMPING ON UNNAMED SOURCES KIND OF STORY.

>> BUT THIS IS MUCH MORE NEGATIVE IN TONE IN THE WAY IT WAS COVERED AND PERCEIVED.

>> Warner: THIS COMMENT ABOUT...

>> THEY SAID HE'S LIKE SNARP A SUIT WITHOUT LIPSTICK AND HE CAN'T TALK ABOUT MORMONISM, HIS JOB AS A GOVERNOR OR BANE, ALL HE HAS TO DO IS TALK ABOUT THE FACT HE'S WHITE.

>> THERE'S A RACIAL UNDERTONE BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHO SAID IT OR HOW CLOSE THEY ARE.

>> Warner: IF IT'S FAIR TO SAY THIS IS THE KIND OF LITTLE FALSE STEP THAT IN THE OLD MEDIA ERA WOULD BE WORTH A CYCLE IN NEWS T NEWS BUT BECAUSE OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA ENVIRONMENT IT'S RELENTLESS.

>> IT IS. IF YOU LOOK AT A CHART OF THE "ANGLO-SAXON" TERM AND HOW IT PLAYED OUT ON TWITTER OVER A PERIOD OF 24 HOURS YOU CAN SEE NOTHING FROM THE... SEARCHING FOR THE TERM "ANGLO-SAXON" TO THIS TO A LITTLE BIT DOWN TO ANOTHER BIG ZOOM.

>> GIVES IT AN EXTRA HALF-LIFE.

>> Warner: HOW HAS THE ROMNEY CAMPAIGN RESPONDED TO THE CRITICISM?

>> ROMNEY HIMSELF HAS TRIED TO DISTANCE HIMSELF AND HIS CAMPAIGN FROM THE BLIND QUOTES THAT APPEARED...

>> Warner: HOW ABOUT THE COMMENTS ABOUT BRITAIN?

>> HE'S WALKED IT BACK AS WE SAY IN POLITICS, TRYING TO SOFT THAN LANGUAGE.

>> Warner: SEPARATELY IN THE TWATER TWLORLD'S BEEN THIS NEW CONTROVERSY ABOUT WHETHER THE ROMNEY CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN BUYING TWITTER FOLLOWERS. WHAT'S THAT ABOUT?

>> NORMALLY WITH TWITTER YOU SIGN UP FOR TWITTER AND PEOPLE FOLLOW YOU. THE CHARGE IS THAT ROMNEY AND ROMNEY'S FOLKS HAVE GONE TO A TWITTER AGENCY, PAID MONEY AND BOUGHT PEOPLE TO FOLLOW HIM. SO TAKE A LOOK HERE AT OUR GRAPHIC THAT WE'VE GOT TOGETHER HERE. THESE ARE TWITTER FOLLOWERS ROMNEY HAD ON JULY 20. BY JULY 23 IN THE MORNING HE HAD 819,000 FOLLOWERS. SO HE STARTED AT 673,000 AND JUMPED IN THE PERIOD OF A DAY AND A HALF TO 819,000.

>> LET ME JUMP IN TO SAY I TALKED TO ROMNEY'S DIGITAL GURU WHO FLATLY DENIES THE CAMPAIGN HAD ANY INVOLVEMENT IN TRYING TO BUY FOLLOWERS BUT HE SAYS ANYONE CAN BUY FOLLOWERS AND SEND THEM SOMEONE ELSE. THERE ARE COMPANIES THAT DO THIS FOR A FEE WHERE THEY WILL VACUUM UP FAKE ACCOUNTS WITH FUNNY NAMES AND USE IT TO PAD YOUR TOTAL AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE POPULAR.

>> Warner: SO EVEN THE FACT THAT OBAMA HAS FAR MORE FOLLOWERS THAN ROMNEY, FOR ALL WE KNOW SOME OF THOSE ARE BOUGHT?

>> OF COURSE. THEY COULD BE BOUGHT. BUT THE REAL THING ABOUT TWITTER TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS ENGAGEMENT. SO THE WAY THAT THEY CAN GAIN VOTES AND POPULARITY IS BY AVERAGE AMERICANS INTERACTING WITH THE PRESIDENT, SENDING HIM NOTES OR HIS CAMPAIGN STAFF NOTES. THEY SEND THEM BACK. THOSE ARE WHAT THEY CALL ENGAGED FOE LOWERS. IF YOU BUY FOLLOWERS IT DOESN'T GET YOU ANYTHING EXCEPT THE PERCEPTION YOU'RE DOING WELL.

>> BECAUSE THE ROMNEY CAMPAIGN ALSO MAKES THIS POINT ABOUT THE NUMBER... FOR EXAMPLE ON FACEBOOK. THE PRESIDENT HAS 27 MILLION LIKES TO ROMNEY'S 2.7 MILLION. THEY CLAIM THAT THEIR FOLLOWERS ARE MUCH MORE ENGAGED, THEIR FANS.

>> Warner: AND THE SAME WITH TWITTER. HE HAS MORE BUT I GUESS MY QUESTION IS LAUREN, LOOK AT THIS CHART. HE'S GOT 17 MILLION...

>> BUT HE'S NOT IF FIRST PLACE IN TWITTER.

>> AND WHAT'S MORE, DOES IT MATTER?

>> THAT'S ALWAYS THE AGE-OLD QUESTION PEOPLE ASK ABOUT TWITTER. LOOK AT THIS...

>> LOOK HOW MANY LADY GAGA AS.

>> SHE HAS 27.4 MILLION FOLLOWERS. THE PRESIDENT 17 MILLION. MITT ROMNEY 819,000 AFTER THE ALLEGED BUYING AND THEN WE LOOKED UP... WE WANTED TO SEE WHAT AN AVERAGE PERSON OR POLITICIAN WOULD HAVE. WE LOOKED UP THE MAYOR OF GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN, JIM SCHMIDT, HE HAS 539.

>> Warner: PROBABLY DIDN'T BUY THOSE.

>> I THINK THOSE WERE EARNED.

>> IT MAY NOT MATTER EXCEPT IN TERMS OF AMPLIFYING THE MESSAGE OF THE CAM PAINS.

>> Warner: HOWIE AND LAUREN, THANK YOU BOTH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Warner: ON OUR WEBSITE, WATCH A 2002 "NEWSHOUR" INTERVIEW WITH MITT ROMNEY ON OLYMPIC SECURITY SHORTLY BEFORE THAT YEAR'S WINTER GAMES IN SALT LAKE CITY.

>> Woodruff: NOW AN UPDATE ON AN IMPORTANT FISHING STORY IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION. WE'VE CHRONICLED THE PROBLEMS A PARTICULARLY INVASIVE SPECIES-- ASIAN CARP-- HAVE POSED FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS. BUT NOW SCIENTISTS ARE THINKING IT MAY BE TIME TO COME UP WITH A NEW SOLUTION. ASHAR QURAISHI OF WTTW CHICAGO REPORTS.

>> Reporter: YOU DEFINITELY DON'T WANT THESE VORACIOUS FISH INVADING THE GREAT LAKES, BUT NOW THAT THEY'RE IN THE ILLINOIS RIVER AND HERE TO STAY, SCIENTISTS ARE WONDERING IF THERE'S A PROFITABLE WAY TO KEEP THEIR POPULATIONS IN CHECK. THIS IS STRATTON STATE PARK ABOUT 60 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CHICAGO.

>> THIS IS KIND OF LIKE THE BATTLE GROUND RIGHT HERE.

>> Reporter: IT'S A STORY WE'VE HEARD BEFORE.

>> THE FISH ARE MOVING UP FROM THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER THROUGH ILLINOIS AND UP TOWARDS THE GREAT LAKES.

>> Reporter: BUT THERE'S AN IRONIC TWIST TO THIS DOOMSDAY STORY WHICH COULD BE SOLVED BY STRIKING A DELICATE BALANCE BETWEEN ECONOMICS AND THE ENVIRONMENT. VIC SANTUCCI IS THE ASIAN CARP SPECIALIST FOR THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

>> LET THEM GET THE NET OUT. WE WON'T TRY TO SCARE THE FISH AWAY.

>> Reporter: HE AND HIS TEAM ARE EVALUATING WHETHER THE CARP CAN BE CONTROLLED THE OLD FASHIONED WAY BY CATCHING THEM.

>> THEY'RE TRYING TO DRIVE FISH INTO ONE OF THEIR COMMERCIAL NETS AND THAT'S CONTRACTED FISHERMEN.

>> Reporter: THE CATCH-22 IS THAT WHILE THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO FISH DOWN THE POPULATIONS TO PREVENT ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE, THERE HAVE TO BE ENOUGH ASIAN CARP LEFT TO MAKE THE BUSINESS LUCRATIVE FOR COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN.

>> IT'S REALLY DRIVEN BY FREE MARKET PRINCIPLES-- HOW MUCH THEY CAN GET FOR FISH, HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO CATCH THOSE FISH AND THAT TYPE OF THING AND THEN YOU NEED A MARKET, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THE FISH.

>> Reporter: SANTUCCI SAYS IT'S A NUMBERS GAME. REMOVING ASIAN CARP FROM THIS POPULATION DOWNSTREAM PREVENTS STRAYS FROM MAKING THEIR WAY UP TOWARD THE ELECTRIC BARRIER IN THE CHICAGO SANITARY AND SHIP CANAL. THIS HAS BEEN THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS LAST LINE OF DEFENSE TO BLOCK THE ASIAN CARP FROM INVADING LAKE MICHIGAN AND ALL OF THE GREAT LAKES.

>> THE CONSENSUS AMONG SCIENTISTS IS THAT IT WORKS REALLY, REALLY WELL BUT IS PROBABLY NOT PERFECT, SO IF ONLY A FEW ASIAN CARP REACH THE ELECTRIC BARRIER, IT WILL PROBABLY REPEL THEM, BUT IF THOUSANDS REACH THE ELECTRIC BARRIER, SOME MIGHT SLIP THROUGH.

>> Reporter: PHILIP WILLINK A SENIOR RESEARCH BIOLOGIST AT THE JOHN G. SHEDD AQUARIUM SAYS THE FOCUS NOW NEEDS TO BE ON DEVELOPING WAYS TO PREVENT THE FISH FROM BREEDING NEAR THE ELECTRIC BARRIER BECAUSE SMALLER, JUVENILE FISH ARE MORE LIKELY TO SLIP THROUGH THE BLOCKADE.

>> AND ONE OF THE WAYS TO DO THAT IS TO SPONSOR COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN TO GO OUT THERE AND TRY TO CATCH AS MANY AS THEY CAN.

>> Reporter: TODAY, GARY SHAW IS ONE OF TEN COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN WHO'S ALLOWED TO FISH THESE BACKWATERS ACCOMPANIED BY STATE BIOLOGISTS.

>> POUND FISHING WITH GILL NETS IS THE BEST WAY TO GET RIGHT NOW.

>> Reporter: IT'S NOT A BAD HAUL.

>> HE'S APPROACHING 50, I'D SAY.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS ASIAN CARP ARE CAPABLE OF EATING 20% TO 120% OF THEIR BODY WEIGHT EACH DAY. BUT FOR COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN, BIG FISH, DON'T ALWAYS TRANSLATE INTO BIG MONEY.

>> ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH GETTING PEOPLE INTERESTED IN EATING ASIAN CARP IS THEY HAPPEN TO HAVE A LOT OF BONES IN SOME STRANGE PLACES SO THEY'RE REALLY HARD TO FILET.

>> Reporter: ADD TO THAT THE COMMON MISPERCEPTIONS THAT THESE FISH DON'T TASTE VERY GOOD BECAUSE PEOPLE ASSUME THEY'RE BOTTOM FEEDERS AND YOU HAVE A BRAND PROBLEM. SCHAFER FISHERIES IN THOMPSON, ILLINOIS IS ADDRESSING BOTH THOSE PROBLEMS. EVER SINCE THE FISH FIRST TURNED UP, THE COMPANY HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR INNOVATIVE WAYS TO PROCESS AND MARKET ASIAN CARP.

>> ON THE FRESH SIDE, IT WOULD BE THE ASIAN COMMUNITY HERE IN THE U.S. AND ON THE FROZEN SIDE IT WOULD BE ETHNIC COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD. THE U.S. IS THE ONLY COUNTRY THAT DOES NOT EAT A CARP.

>> AMERICANS HAVE THIS MENTALITY THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO EAT A BONY PRODUCT, THEY DON'T WANT TO FIGHT WITH IT.

>> Reporter: SCHAFER SAYS THAT ONCE ALL THE BONES ARE REMOVED AN ASIAN CARP FILET YIELDS A RELATIVELY SMALL AND EXPENSIVE FOUR TO FIVE OUNCE PORTION THAT CAN'T COMPETE WITH MORE ECONOMICAL ALTERNATIVES, WHICH IS WHY THEY HAVE TURNED TO ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF EXTRACTING THE MEAT.

>> BASICALLY WE RUN IT THROUGH A MINCING MACHINE WHICH IS SOFT MEAT SEPARATOR.

>> Reporter: THE MEAT IS THEN GROUND UP MUCH LIKE BEEF AND NOTHING IS WASTED. SO THIS REMOVES ALL THE BONES AND ANYTHING YOU DON'T WANT IN THE MEAT.

>> YEP. SO HERE ARE YOUR TENDONS YOU CAN SEE AND ALL YOUR BONES ARE IN THERE.

>> Reporter: AND THIS WILL GO EVENTUALLY GO TO BECOME FERTILIZER?

>> ALL THIS WILL BE ORGANIC FERTILIZER.

>> Reporter: IN A STRUCTURE NEXT TO THE FISH PROCESSING PLANT A LARGE MACHINE THE SCHAEFERS CALL THE HUMAN BODY, DIGESTS THE DISCARDED BONES, SKINS AND TENDONS. ENZYMES MUCH LIKE THOSE FOUND IN THE STOMACH BREAK DOWN THE LEFTOVERS TO CREATE AN ORGANIC LIQUID FERTILIZER. AND BUSINESS HAS BEEN GOOD, SCHAFER SAYS OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS PROCESSING OF ASIAN CARP HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED TO ABOUT 15 MILLION POUNDS EACH YEAR. AND THEY ARE IN THE FINAL STAGES OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ON SEVERAL NEW ASIAN CARP-BASED PRODUCTS INCLUDING HOT DOGS. IT'S SOMETHING THE COMPANY HOPES WILL OPEN THE DOOR TO ASIAN CARP FOR MANY SKEPTICAL CONSUMERS.

>> THE TOUGHEST CHALLENGE IS CHANGING THE PERSPECTIVE AND JUST GETTING PEOPLE TO TRY THE FISH.

>> Reporter: THE COMPANY IS FULLY INVESTED IN MARKETING ASIAN CARP PRODUCTS LIKE SALAMI, BOLOGNA AND EVEN ASIAN CARP JERKY. HERE AT THE TASTE OF CHICAGO-- THE CITY'S LARGEST FOOD FESTIVAL-- ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES WORKING WITH ITS PARTNERS HAS FOUND A SURE-FIRE WAY OF GETTING PEOPLE TO TRY IT. BY GRILLING IT UP AND GIVING IT AWAY.

>> YOU JUST MENTION THE WORD CARP AND PEOPLE MAKE A FACE FIRST AND THEN I CONVINCE THEM TO TRY IT AND THEN THEY GO INTO THE STORE AND BUY IT.

>> Reporter: FREE FOOD MEANS LONG LINES AND OPEN MINDS.

>> IT'S REALLY FANTASTIC. IT'S REALLY WELL SEASONED AND IT'S MOIST. IT'S YUMMY. PEOPLE SHOULD TRY IT.

>> Reporter: IN CASE IT CATCHES SCIENTISTS ARE ALSO STUDYING THE LONGTERM PROSPECTS OF KEEPING UP WITH POTENTIAL DEMAND. JAMES GARVEY IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR FISHERIES, AQUACULTURE AND AQUATIC SCIENCES AT SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY.

>> SEE YOU'VE GOT SOME NICE RESOLUTION NOW.

>> Reporter: FOR THE LAST YEAR GARVEY HAS BEEN SAILING THE ILLINOIS RIVER AND LITERALLY COUNTING ASIAN CARP. USING SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT MUCH LIKE THE SONAR ON A SUBMARINE THE TEAM IS SCANNING THE WATERS. THE SIU RESEARCH IS IMPORTANT FOR COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN BECAUSE KNOWING HOW MANY FISH ARE IN THE WATER IS A GOOD INDICATOR OF HOW SUSTAINABLE AN ASIAN CARP BUSINESS COULD BE IN THE LONG- RUN.

>> IF THERE'S NOT ENOUGH FISH OUT THERE, NOBODY'S GOING TO INVEST ANY MONEY IN IT.

>> Reporter: GARVEY AND HIS TEAM THE HOPE IS THAT BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, RESEARCHERS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND COMMERCIAL FISHERIES WILL EACH HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF THEIR ROLE IN KEEPING ASIAN CARP OUT OF THE GREAT LAKES BY PERHAPS PUTTING IT ON YOUR PLATE.

>> Woodruff: NOW... UNEMPLOYMENT AS IT AFFECTS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THAT WAS THE SUBJECT OF MUCH ATTENTION TODAY ON THE 22ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. DURING THE RECESSION, DISABLED WORKERS WERE HIT FIVE TIMES AS HARD AS OTHER WORKERS WHEN IT CAME TO LOSING THEIR JOBS. PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE ALSO HAD MORE TROUBLE FINDING NEW JOBS DURING THE RECOVERY. NOW, THERE'S A NEW PUSH FROM SOME LEADERS IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS TO FIGHT THOSE TRENDS. INCLUDING BY THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION, DELAWARE'S JACK MARKELL, WHO PLANS TO MAKE THIS HIS SIGNATURE ISSUE. WE TALK TO TWO INDIVIDUALS CLOSELY INVOLVED WITH THESE EFFORTS. SENATOR TOM HARKIN, A DEMOCRAT FROM IOWA, IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR AND PENSION COMMITTEE. AND JILL HOUGHTON, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NON-PROFIT U.S. BUSINESS LEADERSHIP NETWORK. WE THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Woodruff: SENATOR HARKIN, TO YOU FIRST. AT A TIME WHEN MOST EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTRY WORRIED ABOUT EMPLOYMENT ACROSS THE BOARD, WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO FOCUS ON THOSE WITH DISABILITIES?

>> WELL, BECAUSE 22 YEARS AFTER THE ENACTMENT OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT WE HAVE AN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AMONG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES APPROACHING ALMOST TWO-THIRDS. TWO OUT OF EVERY THREE PEOPLE WITH DETECTIVES ARE NOT WORKING. THIS IS JUST UNCONSCIONABLE THIS MANY YEARS AFTER THE A.D.A. I KNOW WE'VE HAD A RECESSION. AS YOU'VE POINTED OUT THEY WERE LET GO, LAID OFF AT FIVE TIMES THE RATE OF NON-DISABLED WORKERS SO AS OUR ECONOMY STARTS TO IMPROVE OR COME BACK WE WANT TO MAKE SURE BEAM DISABILITIES AREN'T LEFT BEHIND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW. WE'RE GETTING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LAST YEAR HAD A GOAL FOR THE BUSINESSES IN AMERICA OF ADDING AN ADDITIONAL ONE MILLION PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES INTO THE COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED WORK FORCE BY 2015. SO WE'VE GOT A GREAT PUSH BY BUSINESS AND I THINK WE CAN GET THIS JOB DONE. IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T LEAVE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BEHIND.

>> Woodruff: WHY IS IT SO BAD? AS THE SENATOR JUST SAID, 22 YEARS AFTER THE ACT AND OTHER INITIATIVES, WHY IS IT SO TOUGH?

>> WELL, 22 YEARS AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT THE A.D.A. GAVE US ACCESS AND GAVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR-TO-PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. BUT THE ONE THING YOU CAN'T DO IS LEGISLATE ATTITUDES AND WHAT WE'RE DOING AT THE U.S. BUSINESS LEADERSHIP NETWORK AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SENATOR HARKIN AND THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS BRINGING BUSINESS TOGETHER TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER. WHAT BUSINESS CAN DO IS THEY RESPOND TO THEIR PEERS. IT'S COMPLICATED. THERE ARE A SEE OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS OUT THERE AND IT'S HARD TO NAVIGATE THOSE RESOURCES.

>> Woodruff: I SAW TWO MONTHS AGO THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING OFFICE TOOK THE GOVERNMENT TO TASK FOR NOT DOING ENOUGH. THEY ISSUED A REPORT SAYING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS NOT MAKING ENOUGH PROGRESS TWO YEARS AFTER PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID IT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY TO HIRE, WHAT, 100,000 PEOPLE BEFORE 2015.

>> ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS NOT JUST RESTRICTED TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. IT'S IN GOVERNMENT,OO. AND WE INTEND TO HOLD THIS ADMINISTRATION TO ITS GOALS OF HIRING 100,000 PEOPLE IN THE FEDERAL WORK FORCE BY 2015. THEY'RE BEHIND AND THEY BETTER CATCH UP. THE IMPORTANT THING IS WE SEE A NEW ATTITUDE AMONG BUSINESSES IN THIS COUNTRY AND THAT'S WHERE THE KEY IS. GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT IS OKAY. BUT WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE WORKING IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND BUSINESSES ARE RESPONDING. WE HAD A WONDERFUL MEETING ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO IN CONNECTICUT WITH WALGREENS. THE C.E.O. OF WALGREENS, RANDY LOUIS WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE DISTRIBUTION CENTERS HAD A BIG GROUP OF C.E.O.s AND BUSINESS LEADERS OF MAJOR CORPORATIONS IN AMERICA. AND THEY SHOWED AT THEIR DISTRIBUTION CENTER, FOR EXAMPLE ALMOST 50% OF THEIR EMPLOYEES WERE DISABLED. YET THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE DISTRIBUTION CENTERS ACROSS AMERICA. SO PROCTORS AND GAMBLE, LOWE'S, OTHERS HAVE SHOWN THAT THIS IS NOT CHARITY HIRING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY CONDITIONS GOOD FOR YOUR BOTTOM LINE. NOW THIS IS SPREADING OUT AND MORE AND MORE BUSINESS ARE FINDING OUT THAT IS TRUE.

>> Woodruff: LET ME ASK JILL HOUGHTON ABOUT THAT. FOR THE LONGEST TIME IT WASN'T A PRIORITY GIVE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE NOT EMPLOYED. WHAT'S CHANGING IT? WHY IS THE ATTITUDE CHANGING?

>> IT'S A BURNING INFERNO OUT THERE BEING LED BY COMPANIES LIKE THE SENATOR MENTIONS AT WALGREENS. RANDY LEWIS IS A PARENT WITH AUTISM AND HE'S A SENIOR EXECUTIVE AT WALGREENS AND HE SET OUT CONSCIOUSLY TO CHANGE THEIR WORK FORCE AND THEY FOUND THEIR WORK FORCE CHANGED THEM AND THAT IT MADE GOOD BUSINESS SENSE. THAT IT WASN'T A NICE THING TO DO BUT IT IMPACTED THEIR BOTTOM LINE.

>> HOW DID IT MAKE GOOD BUSINESS SENSE?

>> WELL, IN FACT, THEY DID AN INTERNAL STUDY AT WALGREENS AND WHAT THEY FOUND WAS THAT THEIR SAFETY RECORD, THEIR SAFETY COSTS DECREASED. THAT THEIR EMPLOYEE RETENTION INCREASED, THAT LOYALTY TO THEIR BRAND INCREASED DUE TO THEIR EMPLOYMENT, CONSCIOUSLY EMPLOY WITH DISABILITYS.

>> Woodruff: SENATOR HARKIN, I THINK SOME PEOPLE MAY SAY WHAT IS IT THAT'S BEING ASKED FOR. IF IT'S A CHOICE BETWEEN HIRING SOMEONE WITH DISABILITIES AND WITHOUT YOU SHOULD HIRE SOMEONE WITH DISABILITIES. WHAT'S THE CHOICE YOU'RE ASKING EMPLOYERS TO MAKE.

>> I'M ASKING EMPLOYERS TO DO WHAT THEY'VE AGREED TO DO AND THAT'S HAVE MORE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION TO SEEK OUT PEOPLE WHO ARE QUALIFIED FOR THE JOB. WE'RE NOT ASKING ANY BUSINESS TO HIRE ANYONE WITH A DISABILITY WHO'S NOT QUALIFIED. THIS IS NOT CHARITY. WE WANT THEM HIRE PEOPLE WHO ARE QUALIFIED AND WHO CAN DO THE JOB YES MAYBE THEY MIGHT HAVE TO DO SOME SMALL ACCOMMODATION. WALGREENS HAS SHOWN THAT PUT IN SMALL ACCOMMODATIONS THAT THEY FOUND THAT HELPED THEIR BOTTOM LINE THEIR WORKERS WERE MORE PRODUCTIVE. SO WHEN THEY START HIRING PEOPLE BACK, WE'RE ASKING BUSINESSES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY REACH OUT BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES... WON'T GET IN LINE. THEY'RE NOT UP FRONT. AND WE NEED COMMUNITY-BASED FOUNDATIONS, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, OTHER ENTITYS TO HELP US FIND THESE QUALIFIED WORKERS TO HAVE EXTRA EFFORT TO GO OUT AND FIND THEM AND RECRUIT THEM INTO THE WORK FORCE.

>> Woodruff: JILL HOUGHTON, QUICKLY, WHEN YOU TALK TO BUSINESSES THAT HAVEN'T DONE THIS, WHAT'S THE QUESTION? WHAT'S THEIR CAUTION? WHAT'S HOLDING THEM BACK STILL

>> WE CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE BUSINESSES CAN TALK TO EACH OTHER AND THEY LEARN BEST FROM THEIR PEERS SO WHAT'S HOLDING THEM BACK IS THEY DON'T KNOW. THE BEST WAY TO LEARN IS FROM THEIR PEERS SO THE COMPANIES LIKE WALGREENS THROUGH THE BUSINESS LEADERSHIP NETWORK ARE LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER. PEOPLE COME TO THEIR BUSINESS. THEY HAVE A BAHT CAMP, COME IN FROM OUR DISTRIBUTION CENTER AND LEARN WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE'LL TEACH YOU EVERYTHING WE KNOW.

>> Woodruff: FINALLY SENATOR HARKIN, I ASKED THIS AT THE BEGINNING BUT WHY DOES IT MATTER WHY DOES THIS MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHETHER IT HAPPENS OR NOT.

>> A PERSON'S LIFE-- NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE-- IS BETTER WHEN YOU WORK. WORK IS A PART OF LIFE. IT GIVES YOU FULFILLMENT, THE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY TO HAVE A MORE FULL LIFE. NO ONE WANTS TO BE SHUNTED ASIDE AND SIT AND WATCH T.V. ALL DAY. THEY WANT TO WORK, THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, THEY WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY. TO LEAVE BEHIND SO MANY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE QUALIFICATIONS WHO CAN DO A GREAT JOB. THEY MAY HAVE A DISABILITY BUT THEY HAVE ABILITIES TO DO THINGS. TO LEAVE THEM BEHIND, IT'S JUST UNCONSCIONABLE, IT'S NOT WORTHY FOR A GREAT COUNTRY LIKE AMERICA.

>> Warner: WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE IT THERE. SENATOR TOM HARKIN, JILL HOUGHTON, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> Warner: FINALLY, THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF NEED TO KNOW LOOKS AT THE TOUGH FINANCIAL STRAITS FOR AMERICANS LIVING JUST ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE. THEY HAVE A TOUGH TIME MAKING ENDS MEET, BUT DON'T QUALIFY FOR GOVERNMENT HELP. REPORTER STACEY TISDALE TELLS THE STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY. HERE'S AN EXCERPT.

>> WE ASKED THE THIS SINGLE MOTHER WHO LIVES HER W HER TWO GROWN SONS TO KEEP A FINANCIAL DIARY FOR A MONTH. JAUNITA'S FAMILY HAS THREE SOURCES OF INCOME EACH MONTH: THE $1,160 SHE GETS FROM UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, THE ROUGHLY $1,640 HER OLDER SON ANDRE TAKES HOME FROM HIS WORK AS A SECURITY GUARD, AND $115 SHE RECEIVES IN FOOD STAMPS. JAUNITA'S OTHER SON GIOVANNI IS UNEMPLOYED AND DOES NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE HOUSEHOLD INCOME WHICH TOTALS UP TO $2,915 EACH MONTH. THAT'S ABOUT $, 35000 ANNUALLY. SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE FOR A HOUSEHOLD OF THREE. THE FAMILY DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR WELFARE OR MEDICAID. JAUNITA, YOUR ANNUAL FAMILY INCOME IS $15,000 ABOVE THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE. IT SEEMS LIKE YOU SHOULDN'T BE IN SUCH DIFFICULT FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT BUT THE BILLS I HAVE THAT, IT ADDS UP.

>> Reporter: IN FACT, THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF THEIR INCOME, ANDRE'S SALARY, IS SPOKEN BEFORE EVEN BEFORE THE CHECK IS CASHED. WE MEET UP WITH HIM ON PAYDAY.

>> WHAT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THE MONEY?

>> PAY BILLS, PAY BILLS. PRETTY MUCH THE MONEY WAS GONE BEFORE...

>> IT WAS MADE.

>> BEFORE THE CHECK WAS MADE.

>> Reporter: THE FAMILY SAYS THEY HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN ABLE TO PUT ENOUGH MONEY AWAY TO BUY ANDRE NEW GLASSES.

>> THE SCREW'S BROKE AND ARE GONE AND MY LEG HERE IS HELD BY TAPE. I USUALLY PUT CRAZY GLUE BUT IT KEEPS COMING OFF.

>> Reporter: WATCH HOW THEIR $2,915 DISAPPEARS IN THE MONTH OF MAY. FIRST THERE ARE BASIC EXPENSES. $405 FOR RENT ON THEIR FEDERALLY SUBSIDIZED TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT AND UTILITIES. $315 FOR FOOD. $40 FOR LAUNDRY. $734 FOR A CAR PAYMENT, CAR INSURANCE, MAINTENANCE, GAS, AND TOLLS. $658 TOWARD CREDIT CARD BILLS, HOSPITAL BILL, AND STUDENT LOANS. STUDENT LOANS FROM ANDRE STUDIES AT COMMUNITY COLLEGE. HE WAS HOPING TO BECOME A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER BUT DROPPED OUT BECAUSE HE COULDN'T AFFORD IT. THEIR TOTAL EXPENSES WOULD BE EVEN GREATER IF ANDRE WAS PAYING DOWN A GROWING CREDIT CARD DEBT FROM WHEN HE BOUGHT HIS FIRST COMPUTER FOR COLLEGE. A COLLECTION AGENCY IS AFTER HIM FOR THE MONEY.

>> I HAD 29% A.P.R. I HAD NO CLUE WHAT THAT REALLY MEANT. I THOUGHT IT WAS LIKE 29% ONE TIME FEE OR SOMETHING AND I COULDN'T PAY ANYMORE. WHY KEEP PAYING SOMETHING THAT IT JUST KEEPS GROWING? AND SO I JUST GAVE UP.

>> Reporter: BECAUSE THEY ARE POOR AND LIVE OUTSIDE THE FINANCIAL MAINSTREAM JAUNITA AND HER SON HAVE EXTRA EXPENSES MANY OF US DON'T HAVE TO PAY. BUT SOME CALL CALL IT A POVERTY TAX. $165 TO PARK THEIR CAR IN SECURE LOTS BECAUSE SHE'S AFRAID OF THE CAR THEFT IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD. $42 GOES TO CHECK CASHING FEES. WHEN ANDRE GETS HIS TWICE-MONTHLY PAYCHECK HE CASHES IT AT A CHECK CASHING STORE. THE FAMILY'S FEARFUL OF THE PENALTIES THAT BANKS CHARGE IF A CHECK DOESN'T CLEAR. WITH LESS THAN $100 IN SAVINGS, THEY HAVE PRECIOUS LITTLE ROOM FOR MISCALCULATION. CASHING THIS ONE CHECK COST ANDRE $18. THAT'S T EQUIVALENT OF ALMOST TWO HOURS OF TAKE-HOME PAY.

>> Warner: FIND OUT WHAT DIFFICULT DECISIONS THE LOPEZ FAMILY EVENTUALLY MADE. "LIVING ON THE FINANCIAL EDGE" AIRS TOMORROW NIGHT ON MOST PBS STATIONS.

>> Woodruff: AGAIN, THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OF THE DAY: SYRIAN TANKS AND TROOPS MASSED OUTSIDE ALEPPO FOR A MAJOR NEW ASSAULT ON REBELS THERE. AND WALL STREET RALLIED AFTER THE HEAD OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK TO KEEP THE EURO CURRENCY UNION INTACT. THE DOW INDUSTRIALS GAINED MORE THAN 200 POINTS. NORTH KOREA RECENTLY LEARNED IT HAS A FIRST LADY. HARI SREENEVASAN TELLS US MORE.

>> Sreenivasan: HER NAME IS RI SOL-JU AND SHE'S MARRIED TO NORTH KOREAN LEADER M JONG-UN. HER PHOTOGRAPH TURNED UP UNEXPECTEDLY IN THAT COUNTRY'S STATE MEDIA ON WEDNESDAY. READ MORE ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT IMAGE ON THE RUNDOWN. AND GWEN IFILL ANSWERED YOUR ELECTION QUESTIONS TODAY, ON TOPICS RANGING FROM WHY CANDIDATES TAKE OVERSEAS TRIPS TO HER TIPS ON THE BEST BIOGRAPHIES OF PRESIDENT OBAMA AND MITT ROMNEY. ALL THAT AND MORE IS ON OUR WEB SITE: newshour.pbs.org.

>> Warner: AND AGAIN TO OUR AND THAT'S THE "NEWSHOUR" FOR TONIGHT. I'M MARGARET WARNER.

>> Woodruff: AND I'M JUDY WOODRUFF. WE'LL SEE YOU ONLINE AND AGAIN HERE TOMORROW EVENING WITH MARK SHIELDS AND DAVID BROOKS AMONG OTHERS. THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT. MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY: AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS AND FOUNDATIONS. AND... THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING. AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU. Captioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org

>> THIS IS NBR.

>> Tom: GOOD EVENING. I'M TOM HUDSON. A BIG JUMP IN REVENUE BUT FLAT EARNINGS FOR FACEBOOK'S FIRST QUARTER AS A PUBLIC COMPANY. SHARES FALL HARD IN AFTER-HOURS TRADING.

>> Susie: I'M SUSIE GHARIB. MARIO DRAGHI TO THE RESCUE. THE HEAD OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK SAYS HE'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BOOST THE EURO-ZONE. THAT LIFTS STOCKS AROUND THE GLOBE.

>> Tom: THAT AND MORE TONIGHT ON NBR!

>> Susie: FACEBOOK LOST FACE WITH INVESTORS TODAY-- ITS FIRST EARNINGS REPORT AS A PUBLIC COMPANY FAILED TO IMPRESS. AFTER THE MARKET CLOSE, THE SOCIAL NETWORK POSTED PROFITS OF 12 CENTS PER SHARE, EXCLUDING A CHARGE FOR EMPLOYEE OPTION GRANTS.